Shifting Positions (12 page)

Okay. Changing topics. “As in what I saw?”

He pulled out a small notebook from his back pocket, a pen clipped to the inside. “Yes.

Anything out of the ordinary happen or did something catch your attention?” She put a hand to her neck, twisting a lock of hair with her fingers. “Nothing out of the ordinary. On my way back I did notice a car on the side of the road just east of the ski resort sign.

As I didn’t see anyone and the hood wasn’t up, I didn’t stop.” At his blank look she added,

“That’s not all that unusual. People pull over along that stretch of road all the time. Most specifically the tourists. They like to wander through the woods or get a closer look at the wildflowers that bloom along the road”

Caleb raised a brow, the skepticism clear on his face. “Hey,” she defended, . “I’ve stopped many times to pick flowers. Yes, I know it’s winter and no flowers are blooming. I’m just saying what I saw wasn’t that odd.”

He scribbled a moment then looked up. “That it?”

Tess closed her eyes, rewinding her memory and taking one more trip. “That’s it.”

“Good. And for the record, until we catch this killer, don’t stop for anyone you don’t know. In fact, don’t stop for anyone at all. Call the police.” Before she could even glower at his mandate, Caleb dropped the book and pen on the table and, with a feral grin, he moved toward her. In one smooth swoop, she was lifted by her waist and hauled over his shoulder. Then he sprinted out of the kitchen and up the stairs to her bedroom.

Instead of feeling the mattress at her back when Caleb flipped her over his shoulder, Tess landed on her feet, and fell unsteadily against the door of her bedroom.

“I think you bruised my ribcage,” she laughed, delighted and incredibly turned on by his urgency.

“I’ll kiss it all better.” He said holding her firmly, yet gently, in place with one large hand wrapped at her throat. Knowing she could easily break his grasp if she wanted, she relaxed and let the heat simmer through her body, the potent force making her knees weak. Grabbing his shoulders in an effort to steady herself, she dug her nails into his strong shoulders. He growled in approval, eyes burning to amber as his head descended in the next instant to ravage her mouth.

His tongue thrust hard and deep with wild primal hunger, filling her mouth with his exotic taste.

His other hand was everywhere: her hip, stomach, tunneling under her sweater to cup her breast, his thumb and forefinger lightly pinching the hardened nipples. Each stroke built a fire that threatened to turn her to ash. Her body became one huge throb of endless need from the touch of his lips alone, breasts heavy, stomach clenching as tension began to coil hard and unbearably thick. If this horrible ache was what Caleb lived with every day since they’d met, she didn’t know how he could stand it. His control must be iron-clad. Her’s shattered, leaving a longing so severe she thought if he didn’t assuage the passion flooding every atom in her body, she’d spontaneously combust.

“Caleb.” His name came out as a breathy plea. It didn’t matter that foreplay was basically nonexistent. The juices spilling from her pussy dampened her panties as if they’d kissed and touched for hours, not seconds. “Please.” Unable to wait, she kicked off her shoes and undid her own pants, shoving them as far down as she could while still standing in his grasp.

A groan rumbled in his chest as he tilted her head to nip her neck with careful teeth, using his rough tongue to sooth the pain. She arched, giving him access to anything he wanted.

His hand flattened on her tummy, his fingers edging lower, brushing over the short, soft hair on her mound, straying further down to whisper over her wet slit. He teased a moment, destroying her control as he traced the seam of her pussy. Then he parted her folds and began working her clit in strong strokes, driving her insane. Her hips bucked wildly against his hand.

“More.” She pulled at his shirt in desperation. “I want more.”

“Everything.” He wrenched off his shirt and attacked his jeans, hers followed and both were kicked carelessly to the side. Tess could practically feel herself drooling at the unencumbered sight. His wide shoulders led to muscled arms that bunched enticingly with every movement. She glanced down at his erection, fixated on the huge shaft straining toward her. A bead of fluid dotted the fat head. The veins cording his cock pulsed hard and fast, trailing down to disappear in a soft patch of dark hair.

How could she have forgotten how big he was? Not that having all that steely flesh inside daunted her. It inflamed her.

Her hands itched to run over the smooth, contoured chest, to take one flat nipple between her teeth and nibble. She placed both hands on his six pack abs, feeling the muscles quiver as she slid her hands up his hot flesh. She wanted to pleasure him, needed to take him.

His hands locked on her hips as he rubbed his erection along her pussy and through the juices collecting on her thighs. “Christ Tess, you make me insane.”

“Yes.” The ability to think evaporated in a puff of intense lust. “Now.” He let out an agonized chuckle and pushed a knee between her thighs. The head of his cock grazed her swollen flesh, spreading her wetness to make his entry easier. She sucked in a breath when she felt him at the small opening of her body and when he froze; she wiggled impatiently to get him inside.

“Fuck,” he snarled and stepped away from her.

Panting, she popped her eyes open to see him pawing through his jeans. Condom. She closed her eyes and banged her head against the door. How could she be so stupid? She never forgot protection. And with Caleb, the need for it was imperative. She didn’t want to be a broodmare.

“No,” he kissed her forehead. “No thinking. I told you to trust me. You’re more to me than a uterus. You’re everything.”

Not exactly a declaration of love, but scary enough to make her suck in a shocked breath.

Before she could retort she felt him slide through her slick moisture, the friction sending pleasure through every nerve ending. She nearly cursed him when he stopped barely an inch inside her.

Grabbing his ass, she tried to force him to move. All she could think was
more
, the word resounding in her head like an echo.

“Easy,
m’lupa
” he pressed his lips to her temple, one hand wrapped around her back, the other holding her thigh open wide for his possession. He flexed his hips back and then forward, gaining another inch, stretching the delicate muscles that fluttered around every stroke of hard flesh. When he was lodged to the hilt, he let out a growl of satisfaction. “You feel so damn good, Tess. Better than I ever imagined. Like sweet, sinful heaven.” It wasn’t just good, it was exquisite, wild and scorching and oh so perfect. Then he was moving again, hips rolling as his cock shafted in and out, his pelvis grinding against hers. Her clit was in agony, her body on fire, her orgasm just out of reach.

Suddenly Caleb withdrew from her body and turned her around. He grabbed her hands and placed them palm open on the door. Then he tilted her hips back, her rear thrust in the air.

“What…”

“Better for you.” His voice was low and harsh as if words were beyond him. Then he slipped between the soft globes of her ass and plunged inside, not as deep, but now rubbing over just the spot she need.

“Oh, God. Caleb,” she cried out, her body shaking as blood roared in her ears.

“Fuck yeah. You like me fucking you from behind.” His hand came around to her belly and pressed her close, fingers skating over her aching clit. Her breathing became loud and gasping. She dropped her head, focusing every cell on their joined bodies, where his thick cock rasped and stretched tender folds. The pleasure was so intense, the hunger so strong, she instinctively tightened her inner muscles around him.

So. Damn. Close.

“That’s it.” His fingers moved frantically over the little knot of nerves, the pounding of his shaft sending her to her toes with each hard thrust. “Come all over my cock.” His hips moved side to side, his shaft swirling over the sensitive flesh, again and again.

Finally something snapped inside and she arched back, her body taut as a bow. Pinpoints of light flashed behind her closed eyes as an unbelievably powerful orgasm exploded, turning her deaf and blind in ecstasy.

Caleb let out a guttural howl, plunging in once, twice more and then froze as he followed Tess over the edge into sweet abyss.

As limp as a newborn, she would have fallen to her knees without Caleb’s support. As it was, she fell against the door, unable to do anything else except breathe. She felt his heartbeat on her back, the fierce hammering slowly easing to a measured beat. When he slipped from her body she barely held back a whimper of disappointment.

He moved away from her briefly to dispose of the condom. Then in a graceful motion bursting with power and dominance, he swept her off her feet and headed to the bed. He tossed her down and covered her with his body, settling between thighs that automatically parted to accommodate him. Violent pleasure surged through her at the feel of all his hard muscles fitting so perfectly to her soft curves.

What was wrong with her? She didn’t know if it was this mating heat that made her react with such sharp hunger to this particular man or not. And she couldn’t come up with enough irritation to care.

Lust quickly re-ignited. Caleb responded to the prickling heat, his nostrils flaring and eyes darkening with carnal knowledge. A dangerous grin curved his lips up, causing Tess to squirm under his heavy body with reluctant eagerness.

“Oh no you don’t,” she breathed out, her voice embarrassingly husky. Self-preservation insisted she brush him off, but her body refused to obey.

“Don’t what?” He lowered his head to nuzzle a spot just behind her ear, causing a full body shiver.

“Don’t get to have another go at me.” She tried to swallow her groan of pleasure. It was maddening how easily she turned into molten liquid for this man.

“Really.” His tone mocked her as his seeking lips found another point of weakness, this time at the base of her throat.

She arched her head back and sighed. “Really.” His scent seeped into her skin, clouding her mind and tearing at her defenses. She lifted her hands to stroke down the hard planes of his back. “What are you doing to me?”

His soft laugh tickled her ear. “Loving you.” He drew in a deep unsteady breathe. “I can’t get enough of you. I don’t know if I ever will.”

He reared back to grasp the hem of her sweater and shoved it up and over her head. Her bra came next and when discarded, he ran a searing gaze over her bared breasts. “I didn’t pay near enough attention to these beauties before. Shame on me.” The hunger in his eyes was a tangible force. Everywhere he looked her skin danced with heat. “This is insane.”

He trailed a fingertip over her burgeoning nipple and hummed in appreciation. “No. This is good.” Leaning down, he flicked his tongue over the nub, wrenching a moan from her throat.

“Very good.”

She felt his hardening erection pressing against her wet folds. Digging her hands in his hair, she held him first to one breast and then the other, each rough stroke of his tongue shooting bolts of desire straight to her groin. “Caleb.”

He surged upward to claim her lips in an openmouthed kiss that blazed with possession and unrestrained lust. “I want you.”

She swallowed. “You just had me.”

With a soft chuckle he nibbled her throat. “Your point?”

“It’s too intense. This isn’t normal.”

He froze. “You want me to stop?” He sounded hurt and she didn’t blame him. Desire burned a scorching path through her body but her brain demanded a break. Just to take a minute and re-evaluate.

“No. Yes. I don’t know.” The last came out as a near wail.

With a heavy sigh he rested his forehead to hers, hands tenderly cupping her flushed cheeks, weight held up by his powerful arms. “What are you afraid of?” She looked up into his eyes, so dark she wanted to dive in and let him take her over.

Meaningless sex she could handle. But whatever this was between her and Caleb went far beyond sex. . He was unafraid to love, to laugh and to share his innermost feelings with her and he made her want to reciprocate on every level. The risk to her independence was unnerving enough, but she was afraid a broken heart would destroy her.

Kaylie should have been his mate, not cold-hearted Tess who was terrified of the
unknown.

The thought of her sister lying with Caleb like this twisted her heart, leaving an ache so painful she nearly cried out.

Yes or no, Tess? This is the deciding moment that will change your life forever. Do you
want to remain closed off, always feeling like something is missing, or do you take a leap of
faith?

“Tess?” Caleb urged gently, stroking her jaw with his thumbs.

The thought of not having Caleb in her life made her stomach churn and her wolf claw and howl in abject rage. When she thought of having a life with him, everything settled in place and a sense of peace came over her.

Time to be open and honest, just like him.

She drew in a shaky breath. “You.”

He shifted back, brows tight in surprised anguish. “You’re afraid of me? Why? I would never hurt you.” His voice grew thicker with every word. “Ever. I’d rather die first.” She licked her dry lips. His eyes strayed to follow the movement of her tongue, the gleam of undisguised hunger easy to spot through his thick lashes. “H-how do you know? Is it because I’m one of a thousand that could be your mate?”

“
You
are my mate. Yes, I’ve met a few women who possess the DNA required to carry my cubs, but their scents didn’t raise my hackles in total awareness. And I certainly didn’t want to beat my chest, throw any of them over my shoulder and haul ass to the nearest flat surface.

You are special. Everything about you calls to me. Your scent, your beauty,” he tapped her head,

“your brains and courage. If all I wanted was to mate for the sake of increasing the shifter population, I could have settled long ago. Settled being the operative word, Tess, and ‘settling’ is not for me. I want more. You’re that more. I know this because I’m right where I want to be.” He tilted his head to the side, studying her. “How about you?”